You can only reap the benefits of regular exercise if you get it done. If you struggle to get your workouts in, trying something new and fun like hula hooping could do the trick. Hooping workouts have picked up popularity in recent years, due in part to celebrities like Liv Tyler and Marissa Tomei who swear by hooping to keep fit and slim. Hula hula hooping isn't just a fad. A giant ring like the one you played with as a kid can get your heart rate up, burn calories and work core muscles.
Not Your Kids' Hoop: Choosing the Right Size
You could probably get started with a hula hooping workout by digging your kids' hula hoop out of the garage, but you won't get the best, most effective workout, according to MayoClinic.com. Exercise hoops for adults should be between 36 and 42 inches tall when you stand them up on their sides. They should hit somewhere between your waist and your chest when you place them on the ground and stand behind them. Choose larger hoops if you have a larger mid-section or if you're tall.
Reverse Logic: Weighted Hoops Lighten Your Load
More weights traditionally mean harder, more challenging exercises, but not when it comes to hooping, according to "Fitness" Magazine. Lighter hoops take more effort and energy to keep going and provide a more challenging workout. Beginners may benefit from a heavier hoop, which moves slower and is easier to control. Hoops come weighted from 1 to 5 lbs. If you're unsure how heavy your hoop needs to be, test them out in the store and go with the one you can keep in the air longest. The true benefit of hooping comes from being able to do it for long periods of time, not from how much it weighs.
Bells and Whistles: Hoop Variations
A regular plastic hoop is all you need to start hooping, but if you're looking to branch out, there are a few types of hoops that help you expand your routine. Foam-covered hoops float better and offer more resistance to water-based hula routines. Spring hoops look more like thick, coiled ropes and take much more work to keep in motion. Choose this soft, light type of hoop if you'd like to challenge yourself.
Refresher Course: How to Hula Hoop
If it's been a while, or if you've never hooped before, it might take you a little bit of practice. Hang in there and you'll catch on. Make sure you have plenty of room, then stand inside the hoop with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Start with the hoop extended in front of you so it touches the small of your back. Push the hoop in a clockwise direction and swing your hips forward and back rather than in a circle. Once you master keeping the hoop in the air, you can begin adding more of a circular motion to your hips. Try to keep the hoop in the air for at least 10 minutes at a time.
0 Comments